History of the Connecticut Valley in Massachusetts, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Vol. II, Part 141

Author: L.H. Everts & Co
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Philadelphia : Louis H. Everts
Number of Pages: 896

USA > Massachusetts > Franklin County > History of the Connecticut Valley in Massachusetts, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Vol. II > Part 141

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NATURAL FEATURES.

The town is rugged in aspect, though abundantly inter- spersed with productive vales and meadow-lands. Many hills, some of them aspiring to the appellation of mountains, diver- sify the landscape. Of these, the most noted-not because of altitude or dimensions, but because of the relation which it bore to the first settlement of the town-is P'attaquattic Hill, in the northeastern section.

The water-courses are especially abundant, and afford ex- eellent water-power, which is utilized by various manufactur- ing establishments. Swift River traverses the north western border, on its way south ward to the Chicopee, and partially divides the town from Belchertown, Hampshire County. Ware River enters the town from the northeast, and passes down through the centre to a junetion with the Swift River at the northwestern border. The Quaboag River traverses the east- ern and southern borders to a point a mile below the village of Palmer, where it bears to the north and northwest, and at the village of Three Rivers unites with the waters of the Swift and Ware Rivers and forms the Chicopee River. Nu- merous affluents of the larger streams, in the form of brooks, supply all parts of the town with abundance of water, and several of the larger streams have been and are still utilized for water-power.

Several ponds of water exist in different parts of the town, the largest and most important of which are Calkins', or Yellow Lily Pond, near the centre, and Newell's, or Pat- taquattic Pond, about two miles to the north. The geologic and mineral characteristics are not of special importance, but conform to the description of those features in the eastern part of the county discussed in a general chapter of this work.

RAILROADS.

The town enjoys excellent railroad facilities, and the intro- duction of these formed the starting-point of its present manu- facturing and commercial importance. Prior to the construc- tion of the Boston and Albany Railroad along its eastern and southern borders, in 1840, it was not equal in enterprise and industrial importance to the neighboring towns, and one of its leading villages, Palmer Depot, has grown up wholly in consequence of the building of that road.

The New London and Northern Railroad also passes through its western section, affording shipping facilities to the impor- tant manufacturing enterprises in the village of Three Rivers, and also at Palmer Depot.

The Ware River Railroad also passes through the town,

having stations at Palmer Depot and at the manufacturing village of Thorndike.

The Springfield, Athol and Northeastern Railroad enters from Ludlow on the west, and passes in a northeasterly direc- tion through the town, touching at Three Rivers and Bond's village.

EARLY SETTLEMENT.

The honor of being the first settler of Palmer probably belongs to John King, who established himself about the year 1717. A letter from his mother, dated " Ednarston (England), April 20, 1718," speaks of him as having been married and having one son born,-it is supposed in Boston. She refers to the hardships he had experienced since he left home, and expresses her sorrow to hear that he " lived in such a desert place with- out neighbors." She also says, " I shall never overcome my grief to think you are so far off," but adds, "I am glad to hear you live under the ministry of the gospel ; I pray God to give you grace to improve by it." He probably attended the church in Brimfield.

The spot where the rude log house was first erected by him cannot now be precisely determined. It was somewhere on the plain where the village of Palmer Depot now is. Tradi- tion says that this pioneer family spent the first night of their sojourn at the spring on the hill-side, near the old graveyard where they are interred. Some apple-trees are said to have sprung up near by from seed dropped by them.

Several of Mr. King's sons, of whom he had eight, and three daughters settled in the immediate vicinity of their father, along the north bank of the Quaboag River. From them not only the neighborhood where they lived became known as " King's Row," but the whole town was often called Kings- field or Kingstown in the county and colonial records. The more usual name, however, was the " Elbow-tract, " or the " El- bows," a designation probably derived from the angles made by the union of the Swift and Ware Rivers with the Chico- pee. This part of the town was first occupied by James Shearer, who died in 1745. It was sometimes called the " Dark Corner," because it was at first occupied by only three families, and most of the land was covered with a dense forest.

The formal settlement of the town was not undertaken until the year 1727, when a company of Scotch-Irish emigrants* began to establish themselves under grants or permits from the proprietors of Lambstown ( now Hardwicke), who claimed an extensive tract of land by virtue of a purchase from the Indians, Dec. 27, 1686, " for the sum of £20 enrrent money of New England." The colonial government, however, did not admit their title to the land, and accordingly 56 of the inhabitants, mostly Scotch-Irish, but some from Springfield and other New England towns, presented the following peti- tion for a grant of this tract of land :

" To Ilis Excellency Jonathan Belcher, Esq., Captain-General and Governot- in-Chief in and over his Majestie's Province of the Massachusetts Bay, in New

* These were the descendants of a colony of Protestants which migrated from Argyleshire, in Scotland, and settled in the North of Ireland about 1612. They emigrated to this country in 1718, and were among the first Presbyterians in the country.

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HISTORY OF HAMPDEN COUNTY.

England. The Honorable His Majestie's Council and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, May 31, 1732.

" The petition of the subscribers, dwelling and residing on a tract and parcel of land lying and situate between Springfield and Brookfield, Brimfield and the land called the Equivalent land and Cold Spring, Humbly Sheweth :

" That they are sensible the said land belongs to the said Province; yet the reason why your petitioners entered on the said land was as follows : Some from the encouragement of Joshua Lamb, Esq., and Company, that the said land be- longed to them, and that they would give to such of your petitioners as entered thereon under thetu a good right and title to such a part thereof as they respec- tively contracted for. Yet, notwithstanding, your petitioners are now sensible that the said Lamb & Co. have no right to the sail land, and that the same will prove greatly to your petitioners' damage ; that is, to such as hold nudler them, unless relieved by your Excellency and Honors; and that others of your petitioners entered on them from necessity, not having wherewith of their own to provide. Yet nevertheless, your petitioners are duly sensible that they deserve your dis- countenance. But, confiding in the reasons offered, they humbly request your compassionate consideration, that they may be put nuder such regulation as may have a tendency to promote the flourishing of religion, &c.

"Therefore your petitioners most humbly pray that your Excellency and Honors would take the premises into your wise consideration, and either grant them the said tract of land, or put them under such restrictions and regulations as in your consummate wisdom shall be thought most reasonable, and your petition- ers, as in duty bound, will ever pray (signed) : James Dorchester, Joseph Wright, Bernard MeNitt, Daniel Fuller, Andrew Mackie, James Shearer, James Stevens, Daniel Killam, David Spear, Thomas Little, Sanmel Doolittle, James Braken- rilge, Robert Harper, Williamt Shaw, John Harvey, John Bemon, Duncan Quin- tin, Isaac Magoou, Isaac Magoon, Jr., Micah Tousley, Elijah Vose. Elisha Hall, Alexander Tackell, Robert Farrell, Joseph Fleming, Aaron Nelson, John llen- derson, David Nevins, Joseph Brooks, Robert Nevins, Humphrey Gardner, Nicholas Blancher, William Crawford, Samuel Nevins, John Gerish, Sanmel Shaw, Andrew Rutherford, Daniel Parsons, James McClenathan, James Lamuher- ton. Thomas McClenathan, Robert Thompson, Joseph Wright, Jr., Samnel Brooks, Robert Dunlap, Benjamin Parsons, James Lamberton, Jr., Timothy McElwean, Matthew Brown, Patrick Smith, John Brown, Aaron Parsons, Andrew Farrand."

In answer to this petition the General Court voted that Col. John Alden, of Duxbury, and Samuel Bradford, of Plympton, with such others as the Governor and council should appoint, be a committee to repair to the land in ques- tion, and view " the situation and circumstances thereof, as well as those of the petitioners." The committee performed their labor, and reported at the next session as follows :

" We find the land petitioned for to be a tract of land commonly called the 'Elbow tract,' lying near Springfield and the 'Equivalent lands,' containing 17,014 acres (viz., contents of five miles square and 1014 acres over), exclusive of particular grants taken up and laid out within the same, bounded and included within the lines and boundaries of the adjacent land as hereafter laid down, viz. : Easterly in part upon the west line of Brookfield township: from the Northwest corner the said line runs South two deg. West to the river called Quabong elius Chicopee River ; thence bounding on Brimfield township, as the said river runs, Easterly in part and Southerly, and in part Westerly so far down said river as to where the South end line of a tract of Equivalent lands called Cold Spring town- ship [now Belchertown] crosses or skirts the said river; then bounding Northerly on the said line, as it keeps East by the needle of the surveying instrument, to the Southeast corner of said tract or township, which is the mouth of Swift River ; thence bounding Westerly in part on the sail tract or township of equiv- alent land as the river runs, to where the South line of another tract of Equiv- alent land [now Ware], containing 10,000 acres, belonging to John Read, Esq., strikes up or runs from said river; thence bounding Nurtherly upon sail line as it runs East, and by North to the Southeast corner of said tract, being a heap of stoues by the root of a great red oak-tree, fallen cluse by one on the West side of a run of water, about eighteen rods Southerly of the river, called the Ware River; thence bonnding Westerly on the East line of said tract, as it runs North by the needle, until on East line, there will strike the Northeast corner tree of Brookfield."

The committee further reported that they found the greater part of the tract " to be pine land, high hills, and low val- leys ; the hills very poor and mean, the valleys pretty good." They further reported that about 80 persons had settled upon the land, or were about settling, the most of them families who had built houses and made considerable improvements, and that for three years past they had supported, by free con- tribution, a minister of the gospel. They found affairs greatly mixed, the lots of the settlers encroaching one upon the other. Other matters of like nature were referred to in detail, and recommendations relative to grants of the land were made. The report was adopted by the General Court, June 21, 1733.

The result was that specific grants were made to 44 different persons, mostly of 100 acres each, and they alone were consti- tuted proprietors or grantees, with power to take and divide

among themselves all lands within the limits of the town not otherwise appropriated. One of the conditions of this adjust- ment of affairs was " that such of the aforesaid-named persons or grantees as are non-residents, and their lots not settled, shall forthwith settle them by their own persons, or by sueh credible wholesome inhabitants as shall be accepted by the major part of the resident settlers." Another was that they should " lay out, in some suitable and convenient place, one lot, not less than 100 acres, to be to and for the first settled and ordained minister; and also two other lots of the same contents, one for the ministry and the other for a school."

Grants of a single lot were also made to each of 31 other persons who had " presumed to enter upon the Province land in the said tract without any leave or order from this court." The general conditions applicable to both sets of grantees were that they pay into the public treasury the sum of £500 within two years, and that they pay the further sum of £67 Ils. 9d., the charge and expense of the committee. Provisions were also made for the forfeiture of the lands in case of default, and they were required to build a suitable house for public worship and settle a minister within two years.

In June, 1735, the proprietors granted a 100-acre lot to each member of the committee, as a " grateful acknowledgment of their great and good service to the settlement, in dispatching the affairs thereof by a full and particular report, superseding the charge and difficulty of a committee of regulation." Ebenezer Burrill, of Lynn, who acted as the third member of the committee, was one of the grantees.

The inhabitants found it impossible to pay the tax levied by the General Court, although it only amounted to about $630, or less than 4 cents an aere for the 17,014 acres, which the town contained. Execution was issued against them by the prov- ince treasurer, and their collectors were exposed to imprison- ment for not meeting the demand of the general government. A petition for relief was addressed to the General Court in September, 1743, setting forth the claims to further forbear- ance of " this little, poor, infant plantation," and represent- ing the inhabitants to be "a poor people on a small, mean tract of land," and averring that their taxes were "very hard and grievous, and wholly insupportable." The tax was divided up into four parts, payable at different times, which they finally succeeded in paying.

The earliest date of the laying out of any land is June 11, 1728. This was Obadiah Cooley's lot, now within the limits of Warren. There were many lots laid out in 1728, most of them in December of that year. Andrew Farrand's (No. 2) was laid out Dec. 15, 1728. Ebenezer Merrick's lot was laid out Jan. 21, 1729. Rev. Moses Baldwin afterward resided there. It was originally laid out to James Dorchester, who probably abandoned his right to Merrick. James McElwean's lot was laid out on Dec. 1, 1728. The first proprietors' meet- ing was held on Aug. 7, 1734, under a warrant from William Pynchon, of Springfield.

The first house built in Palmer, with the exception of that erected by John King already referred to, was by James Dor- chester. It stood on a piece of land that Capt. J. Cooley pur- chased of Moses Baldwin, where there was a cellar, about 1720. The lot was originally called No. 9. In 1733 the court granted a lot to Dorchester east of Dumplin. The old- est houses now standing in Palmer are the Nutting house, in the north part of the town, now occupied by Myron Bartlett, and which was erected by David Spear about 1765, and the Joe Lee house, built over one hundred years ago, on Patta- quattie ITill.

Of the first settlers of the town, James Shearer lived near the village of Three Rivers, which his grant originally in- eluded. He divided his property among his children. David Spear lived in the north part of the town. James Brecken- ridge lived east of Palmer Centre. Duncan Quintin was a surveyor, acted as proprietors' clerk for years, and lived at

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HISTORY OF THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY.

Palmer Centre. Alexander Taekels owned east of Thorndike. Robert Farrell lived where Jacob Stever now resides, and his descendants intermarried with the MeMaster family, who came to this country from Ireland in the same ship with the Farrells. John MeMaster lived where King Knox now lives. Hugh Me Master lived near Pattaquattic Pond. Joshua Me- Master lived in the northeast part of the town, on the Reuben Shaw place. Joseph Fleming lived southeast of the meeting- house about two miles. James MeClenathan lived on the east side of the Pattaquattic Hill. Benjamin Parsons lived in the east part of the town, near the John Gamwell farm.

Timothy MeElwean came from Bruchean, Ireland, about 1720, and took up a large tract of land near the village of Thorndike. He was a blacksmith by trade, and was probably the first in the town to engage in that occupation. Wm. Sloan located near Thorndike, on the north side of the river. John Brown located in the east part of the town. Patrick Smith located on the west side of Pattaquattic Ilill, where Charles Smith now lives, and Aaron Parsons in the east part of the town, on the Gamwell place.

The descendants of several of these pioneer settlers are yet living in the town, notably the Smiths, McElweans, and Farrells.

TAVERNS.

Tradition says that the oldest tavern which existed within the confines of the town of Palmer stood near the present res- idence of Ebenezer Brown, over a hundred years ago. The oldest inhabitants remember simply to have heard traditions regarding it, and to have seen the chimney standing which was formerly used in connection with the house.

A man named Scott kept tavern at Four Corners over one hundred years ago, which, probably, was the next one. Tales of horrible tragedies which are said to have occurred within its walls are yet remembered by the old people, but their facts are not authenticated by any reliable evidence. Those were days of witches, hobgoblins, and ghostly appearances, James Bates and his father succeeded Scott in hotel-keeping at Four Corners. Then John Sedgwick left Palmer Centre and erected a large hotel at Four Corners, which he kept for a number of years. The first meeting of the citizens of Palmer to consult upon the survey for the Boston and Albany Rail- road was held at this house. It was afterward removed to Palmer Depot, and is still used as a dwelling-house, standing on Park Street, near the Congregational Church.

John King kept a tavern about 1805 or 1806 at Palmer Centre. lle was succeeded by Sedgwick & Gardner, and they by John Frink, who kept it as late as 1833 .* Abner Allen and Elias Turner then kept it successively. Alfred Trumbull now occupies the building as a dwelling-house. Numerous small inns or taverns existed in different parts of the town at later periods.

STORES AND MERCHANTS.

One of the earliest stores kept in the town was by Amos Hamilton, at Palmer Centre, about 1802. Small trading-posts may have existed at earlier dates. Hamilton's store stood near the old meeting-house. Knights & Ward traded there subse- quently, and Benjamin Fuller was in trade there about 1824 or 1825.

LAW AND MEDICINE.

Of the early physicians, Dr. Jonathan Shearer practiced in tbe southwest part of the town, near the Monson line, as early as 1800, and perhaps earlier. Dr. Aaron King practiced at Palmer Centre about 1810. Dr. Alanson Moody and Dr. Marcus Shearer afterward engaged in practice there.

The first lawyer was Daniel Shearer, who practiced over one hundred years ago in the west part of the town. Ile after- ward moved into the centre. The next lawyer to locate at

Palmer was James Stebbins, who was admitted to the Bar in 1813, and immediately commeneed practice there. In his old age he removed to Springfield, his native place, where he died.

ORGANIZATION.

The first attempt at organization in Palmer was made in the year 1735, when the inhabitants petitioned to be set off into a town, but failed .; They made several other attempts among themselves, but either could not agree or the General Court refused permission. In 1743 leave was granted to bring in a bill, on petition, but nothing was accomplished.

Finally, Jan. 23, 1752, Palmer was incorporated a district, with the following bounds: " Easterly, on the town of Western [now Warren]; Northerly, partly on the plantation called Cold Spring [Belchertown], and partly on Ware River Precinct, called Read's farm [Ware]; Southerly and Westerly, on the town of Brimfield." All the privileges, powers, and immu- nities usually conferred upon towns were bestowed upon the new district, with the exception of the right of representation in the Legislature. It is stated in the act, by way of semi- apology, that the people of the new district were not " desirous of" this privilege.

By a statute for the regulation of towns, passed March 23, 1786, all places incorporated as districts, prior to Jan. 1, 1777, were declared to be towns "to every intent and purpose whatever," and it was by virtue of this enactment that Palmer was raised to a position of cquality with the other towns of the commonwealth.

On the 3d of June, by a special act, John Sherman, a justice of Brimfield, was empowered, " upon application to him made for that purpose" by five of the inhabitants, to issue his war- rant for a meeting, when they might "choose and appoint such town officers as the law directs." In accordance with this provision, the first official meeting was held "at the public Meeting-House, on Tuesday, the 30th day of June, 1752."

The act contained no name for the new district, although the inhabitants had petitioned for that of Kingstown, by which it had previously been called. Perhaps the explana- tion why that name was not conferred lay in the fact that " Kingston" already existed in Plymouth County. Lieut .- Gov. Spencer Phipps, in accordance with a not unusual cus- tom of the day, bestowed the name of Palmer upon the new distriet, in honor of his relative, Thomas Palmer, who had recently died in Scotland.

Among other votes of interest that have been passed by the town was one on March 15, 1768, as follows :

" Whereas, the excessive use of foreign superfluities is one great cause of the present distressed state of this country in general, and the happiness of the com- munities depends on industry, economy, and good morals ; and this district, tak - ing into serious consideration the great decay of trade, the scarcity of money, the heavy debt contracted in the last war,; which still remains upon the people, and the great ditheulties to which, by these means, they are reduced : Therefore voted, unanimously, that this District will use their utmost endeavors by ex- auple, in suppressing extravagance, idleness, and vice, and promoting industry, economy, and good manners, And in order to prevent the unnecessary exporta- tion of money, of which the continent has of late been so much drained, it is, therefore, Voted that this District will, by all prudent means, endeavor to dis- countenance the use of foreign superfluities, and encourage the manufactures of the whole continent in general and of this Province in particular."

The principal officers and representatives of the town, so far as we have been able to obtain them,¿ have been as follows :

TOWN CLERKS.

1819-20, John Frink; 1829-36, Theophilus Il. Knight ; 1836-41, Amos Hlamil- ton : 1841, Horatio G. Hale ; 1858, Wm. N. Packard; 1859-64, Daniel Granger; 1864, Joseph H. Blair, Lyman Dimock ; 1865-68, Lyman Dimock ; 1868-79, James B. Shaw.

SELECTMEN.

1819 .- James Stebbins, Asa Ward, Robert Smith, Joseph Lee, Jr., Elijah IFills. 1820 .- James Stebbins, Wilson Foster, Joseph Lee.

+ Grantee's book, 83.

# The old French war.

¿ In compiling these lists we are necessarily dependent upon the courtesy of the town clerks. James B. Shaw, lown clerk, states that all records back of 1819, belonging to the town, were destroyed by fire.

* Frink was afterward proprietor of several great stage-lines in the West, in company with Mr. Walker, of Chicago.

987

HISTORY OF HAMPDEN COUNTY.

1821 .- Amos Hamilton, Asa Ward, Calvin White. 1×22 .- Amos Hamilton, Clark MeMaster, Daniel King.

1823 .- Amos Ilamilton, Daniel King, Jonathan Moore.

1824 .- Amos Ilamilton, Joseph Lee, Jr., Noab Stungon. 1825 .- Thomas Stebbins, Asa Ward, Zablock Cooley.

1826 .- John Frink, Lebbens Chapin, Calvin Ward, Cyrus Knox, John Sedg- wick.

1827 .- John Frink, Calvin Ward, Cyrus Knox, John Sedgwick, John B. Blanch- ard.

1828 .- Amos Hamilton, Sylvester Parks, Robert Hitchcock, Jonathan Moore, Jr., Israel King.

1829 .- Sylvester Parks, Robert Hitchcock, Isaac King, Emetius Bond, Freeman Smith.

1830 .- John Frink, Joseph Lee, Jr., Cyrus Knox.

1831 .- Jolin Sedgwick, Timothy Ferrell, Freeman Smith.

1832 .- Cyrus Knox, Freeman Smith, Clark McMaster.

1833 .- Elisha Converse, Jr., Leonard Davis, Alonzo V. Blanchard. 1834 .- Cyrus Knox, Joseph Brown. Leonard Davis.

1835 .- Cyrus Knox, Clark McMaster, John Ward.

1836 .- John Ward, Abel Calkins, Marble K. Ferrell, Ralph Green, Wm. J. Blanchard.

1837 .- John Ward, Abel Calkins, Marble K. Ferrell, Ralph Green, Wmn. J. Blanchard.

1838,-John Ward, Wm. J. Blanchard, David S. P'nine, Pliny Cooley, Pbiletus W. Burnett.

1839 .- John Ward, Pliny Cooley, Eliphalet Hancock, Royal Buffington, Alonzo V. Blanchard.

1840 .- Sylvester Parks, John Gamwell, Royal Buffington.

1841 .- John Gamwell, Alonzo V. Blanchard, P. W. Burnett, Gilbert Barker, Merrick Cooley.

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History of the Connecticut Valley in Massachusetts, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Vol. II, Part 141

Author: L.H. Everts & Co Publication date: 1879 Publisher: Philadelphia : Louis H. Everts Number of Pages: 896

Author: L.H. Everts & Co
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Philadelphia : Louis H. Everts
Number of Pages: 896